Inhaler



C. F. ADAM Jan. 20, 1931.

INHALE'R Filed March 16, 1925 2 'Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 2o, 1931. c. F. ADAM 1,789,921

INHALERY Filed March 16I 19,25 2 Sheets-*Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 20, 1931 CARI. F. ADAM, or TRENTON, NEW JERSEY INHALER Application filed March i6, 1925.` Serial No. 15,949.

This p invention relates to vinhalers, and more particularly to inhalers adapted for the genera-tion or storage of such substances as chlorine `for the treatment of colds, etc.,

and includes the novel inhaler structures set forth below, together with the processes and compositions herein set forth.

The recent development in thetreatment of colds and related ailments by chlorine has created the need fora simple pocket inhaler which although it may be carried around by any one without gradual loss of its chlorine content, is availa le for use when desired.`

Such inhalers supply vobvious advantages 16 over the preparations now on the market and usually manufactured in tablet or liquid form, which must be mixed with water, etc., in order to generate the chlorine, etc.

One of the vobjects of'this invention is to 20 supply aconvenient chlorine inhaler which ermits of the storing ofv the chlorine for indefinite periods.

Another object of this inventionis to proy vide compositions which will generate chlo rine gradually, particularly desirable in such chlorine inhalers. y Y

A further object of this invention is to supply inhalers 'for the storing and generation of' chlorine which may besimple in construction, cheap to manufacture, 'and easily jcarried-in a pocket for example. Y

i Other and further objects and advantages will appear froin the more detailed description set forth below, particularly taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein there isshown by way of illustration: K o

VIn Figure inhaler; i

In Figure of Figure 1;

In Figures 3 and 4 fragmentary sections von lines 3--3 and lr-4 vof-Figure 2;

In Figure 5, a modified form of theinhaler shown in section; f

Y In Figure 6, onefform of the inner -vial having one end permanently closed; I T

In Figures 7 and B'fmodied formsof the outer vial vl, one'form of a completed 2, a section through'the inhaler l() modified formsv of the inner vial; and Y f In Figure 11 a further modification off the In Figures 9 and completeinhaler structure shown'in section.k i i In Figure 12, a sectional view of a further modification of the inner vial, as filled and ready for assembly. y.

i It will now be apparent that this inhaler comprises a structure in which there is an` inner vial for containing the desired chlo` rine storing or storing and generating composition, an outer vial surrounding the first named vial with means for retaining the inner vial in a more or less fixed position within v the outer vial, and preferably in spaced relatio-n so that there is maintained between the outer and inner vials, a space preferably closed tothe entry of chlorine gas, so that advertising matter may be placed within this space between the vials, and'any printing or printed matter on the advertising circular willthus: not be subjected to the destroying actiony of the chlorine fumes.

f Turning to the more specific forms of this i invention showing the inhaler structure, there is'found inFigures I to 4 an inner vial for containing the chlorine containing composition or mixture, this vial l being 1n this instance' a glass tube open atv both ends. This inner tube or vial4 l is-positioned withinv the outer vial 2 by means of holding means such as corks 3 and Llffitting snugly ywithin vthe oiiiter vial 2, and forced into close contact with the tuber 1so that ,theV latter is relatively i fixedfinfposition. This arrangementof the vials forms aspace 5 between them in which display'advertisingetc. may be shown, and such display matterwill obviously be cut off from anycontact with-the chlorine gas orfumes VThe corks 3 and14nas shownin Figures l .tof 4: are preferably perforated'orv drilled to form a `small passageway or open- Y ing and 7 in them through which air or air with chlorine'may be drawn. When so per fora-ted there is also preferably placed over the corks, a small disc of paper, etc., 8., and 8, to tentatively close the openings 6 and 7 in thecorks, and such discs may carry wording such as Punch here as illustrated in Figure 3. The outer vial. Bis also preferand 6, an inner vial 2O is used which is closed at one end as shown at 21. The opposite open end 22 is tentatively closed by a small preferably -cork stopper 23, and if desired a celluloid or equivalent coating 24 may be placed over the end 22 of the inner vial 20 to seal the same effectively but tentatively. The inner vial 2O is maintained within the outer vial 2 by a holding means or cork 4 closed by a disc 8 all as set forth under the description of the similar features of ligure 1 above. The stopper 3" at the further end of the tube 2 maintains the inner vial 20 in position.

In the modifications set forth in Figures 7 to 10 several forms of inner vand outer vials are shown with both open ends (Figures 8 and 10) and with one end permanently closed (Figures 7 and 9). The closure of these vials is preferably as follows: The vial is threadedor similarly endowed as shown at 30 and 31 so that a preferably metallic screw cap 32 or 34 may be used to form the outer closure. The usual stopper or corh 35 or 36. is placed in the end of the vial 101 or 102, and when this cork is perforated as shown in the drawings itis preferable place over the perforated cork, a disc of waxed paper etc. 37 or 38 which may yclose the perforations in the Stoppers tentatively. In one modification of the vscrew cap as shown at 33, there is an opening or perforation 89 through which the disc 38 for Yexamplemay be punctured without removal of the screw cap. Such perforated caps while shown as used on the inner vials may be used also on the outer vials if desired. f

In the complete vial shown in Fig-ure 11, use is made of some of these modificationsto form a very desirabletype of inhaler. `The outer vial. 101 permanently closed at one end 140, is provided withascrew cap.14.1 adapted to. screw over the preferably threadedl end 30 of the vial 101. This cap 141 is formed with a cylindrical extension. 142 open at its outer en d 143, and adapted toreceive the cap 144 for the purpose of sealing the entire inhaler, The inner vial 2O which may be similar to the form shown in Figure 6 but preferably withoutthe coat-ing 24, is held in place withink the. outer vial 101 by means of a cushioning member or cork 150 at the closed end, and byv means of stoppers and 36 as ililustrated.l The. cap 141 serves to force the Stoppers 35 and 36 down into place so tha the inner vial 2O is held against the cushion 150.

ln the several modifications set forth above,

it has been found convenient to use corks or` stoppers which contain a central opening or perforation, and-to close this opening tentati-rely by a washer or disc of paraffned blotter material, paper, rubber, etc. The washer or disc is easily punctured when 1t is desired to use the inhaler'.` i But it is obvious that in place of this arrangement, a thin disc of cork,

form of a tube, a small amount of absorbent material such as cotton is used to plug up one end of the tube. Silica gel orfana-logous material which has been previously saturated with, and has absorbed dry chlorine is then placed in this tube and the other end is then plugged up with cotton. This filled or charged vial is then inserted into the outer vial. It is thus obvious that the drawing of air into the inhaler after piercing of tentative closures or seals will cause fumes of chloine to be drawn upward through the inhaler into the nostril. Then when chlorine is generated by means of thewreactionv ofhydroehloric acid uponmanganese dioxide, an inner vial withone end permanently closed, is

charged with the materials inthe following manner: A gelatine Vcapsule previously filled with manganese dioxide is dropped into the acid solution in a vial. Cotton for example, is then placed over the acid, and the entire vial or cartridge closed with a cork stopper which may or may not ybe of the perforated type set forth above. If desired, this mayjbe ,further secured in place by one of the screw caps also explained at length above. Since .it takesabout one quarter of Yanhour for the vacid to digest the capsule, the operator has ample timeto. fill they vial. and assemble the inhaler if desired, before there is any actual generation of chlorine and pressure developed which pressure later, when it is desired to release the chlorine for inhaling, will expel it and without requiring the air current as described in the silicagell and analogous material, and the method of'u'sing such materials. Y

It is further obvious that any desired chlorine charged composition maybe used, or chlorine may be stored and absorbed in an absorbent material which yields -chlorine v. `e5 chlorine composition may take varif' n so incassi back whenV a gentle current of air is drawn through the inhaler. Such chlorine carrying material having been used to lill the inner open tube or car ridge may be used in place of the hydrochloric acid-manganese dioxide compositions set forth above in the closed vial construction.

The manner of assembling these inhalers will be obvious from the descrigiticns forth above in connection with the various modifications of the inhalers. Butthe following additional matter appears to be desirable in this connection and particularly in connection with the use'of the inhalers. A tube or cartridge or inner vial having been filled in the manner forth above, or in some analogous manner, the cartridge or vial is inserted into the outer vial abutting against a cork or other stopper 4 or 30 as the case may be. Or in the case of the modification shown in Figure 11, the vial is placed with its inner end abuttinfr the cushioning member' 150. A stopper or cork 3 may then be inserted against the other end of the vial or cartridge to hold it in place. .Discs such as G and 7 are used whenever desirable as set forth above. In the case of the device as shown in Figures 2 and 5, the stopper or cork 10 is then inserted to close the device. 1When it is desired to use the inhaler, stoppers 10 and 11 are removed, and the corks 3 and 4 punched at the points indicated. By thenr applying the tapered end of the inhaler to the nostril, and inhaling, a sufficient gradual flow of chlorine impregnated air is obtained.

In the modifications shown in Figures 7 to 11, the outer screw caps together with discs are used to seal the inhalers, the punching taking place after removal of the outer screw cap. Vhen perforated screw caps such as those shown in Figures 9 and 10 are used on the outer vials, the punching may take place without removing the screw caps. Subsequently if it is desired to tentatively seal the inhaler after punching, new discs may be inserted under the screw caps.

In the modification shown in Figure 11, the cartridge having` been placer within the outer vial and abutting against the cushioning cork 150, the stopper 35 is inserted so that its'opening is alined with that in the stopper 36.' A disc having been inserted` within the screw cap 141, this cap is screwed into positionand serves to maintain the parts in fixed position against movement. The outer screw cap 144 is then screwed on. To use this form of inhaler, the outer cap 144 is removed, and the Stoppers punched straight through so that the opening into the inner Vvial or cartridge is made.

An inner vial having a perforated'screw' cap may also be used in this modification and when brought slightly above the outer vial,

will be held tightly in fixed position by the outerl screw cap 141, previously suitably taining manganese dioxide,k or other selected material, isplaced at the closed lend of the vial, and over this is placed a saddle member 41., The saddle member or separator may take any desired form, one such form being illustrated, its principal 'function being to prevent the absorbent cotton or etc. 43 from being pushed too far into the tube. The use lof saddle also enables the operator to assemble such inhalers more rapidly. f

`While the procedure set forth above may be used, it has been 'found' to be preferable to fill the inhaler as shown in Figure 12 as fol-y lows. The acid is first placed in the inner vial 102, after which'the'capsule containing the manganese dioxide isdropped into the acid; rCottonfandcork follow yinthesame manner as' setforth above.v This-procedure is desired since the acidmay be allowed to stand in the vials fora length of time.

In place of using a perforated cork forthe stopper as set forthy above, together with a separate disc of material to close the perforation, a label showing the words Punch here may be pasted on the cork over the perforation. 'Or when desired, a thin disc of cork unperforated may be used, which is adapted to be easily punctured.

While this invention has been described aboveas particularly useful in the generation of chlorine, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the same principles may be applied in using such structures for the genera-- tion of other gases or vapors.

Having thus set forth my invention, I claim: y v

`1. In an inhaler, a vial containing hydrochloric aci-d and a capsule of manganese dioxide, the capsule being in contact with the hy- Y so y material between theacid and the open end of i the vial, and al closure for the vial.

4. An inhaler comprising an outer vial per' manently closed at one end, anl inner vial permanently closed at one end containing a chlorine generating composition, the inner vial being maintained in spaced relation to and Within the outer vial, perforated Stoppers in cach oi the vials, the Stoppers being adjacent to each other With their perforations in aline- Y ment, and means for tentatively closing the perforations.

5. An inhaler comprising an outer Vial permanently closed at one end, an inner vial permanently closed at one end containing a chlorine generating composition, the inner vial .being maintained 1n spaced relation to and Within the outer vial, perforated Stoppers in each of the vials, the Stoppers being adjacent to each other with their perforations in alinement, means for tentatively closing the perforations, and screw caps on the inner and outer vials.

6. In an inhaler, a vial containing a capsule of manganese dioxide, a saddle separating the capsule from absorbing material contained in the vial, and hydrochloric acid in contact with the manganese dioxide.

7. In an inhaler, a vial closed at one end, containing a capsule 'of manganese dioxide immersed in hydrochloric acid, a saddle member surrounding the capsule, but allowing access of the acid to the capsule, absorbing material above the capsule and acid, extending to the open end of the Vial, and a stopper on said vial.

CARL F. ADAM. 

